The World, Upside Down 25 July 2014
Sometimes the palm trees don't help one feel better. The pool or the ocean or the sun or the warmth don't do a thing.
Look 585 Optimum / circa 2009
Bought this frame over the summer 2020. Built it up with Campagnolo drivetrain and brakes. Ritchey handlebars and stem. Fizik saddle and seat-post. Using an old pair of wheels for now. Mavic Open Pro rims. Campagnolo record hubs. 32 spokes front and back. They are old but still solid.
16.07.2020 Broken
Broken glass windows all up and down these streets. Some days everything seems broken.
05.12.2013 Miami Beach, Florida
This was taken on the last visit when things, my parents health, was still ok. They were having their problems, but seemed to be managing the day to day. This was 7 months before my dad passed away. Around 2 July mother called about dad being in hospital. His doctor worked on him through the night. Told me my father had several cardiac arrests. Told me he’s a strong guy. He was surprised he survived. After 3 weeks in intensive care he passed away. Beginning of March 2014 mother had by-pass surgery. She was never the same after that. Hardly knew where she was. Living in fear. Living scared. Dementia. They are both gone now. Things have changed.
11.11.2020 : I see I posted this photo a few years ago. I will leave it. Human error. And here I’ve added some text/context. So it stays.
05.12.2013 : Night Swim
After a good dinner, and a glass of malbec, I’d sit by the pool and take some photos. Some nights I just sat there, star gazing while the warm humid night air enveloped me like a blanket during the warmer months. From around November to March it was nice and cool, almost cold some nights so I’d need a light jacket or vest. Most nights, eventually, I fell asleep.
2016 February, Miami Beach, Florida
This small comfort, pleasure, the ocean caressing my feet, toes curled into the sand, about 18 months after my father passed. Mourning. Respect. It took a long time. I don’t know what getting back to ‘normal’ means anymore.
21 February 2016 Yoga Miami Beach Florida
A few days into this visit it became clear. Mother could no longer live on her own. The dementia was bad. She hardly knew where she was. 11 April 2016 my sister and I moved her into assisted living. It was a stressful time. But we did what we thought best for her.
Miami Beach, Florida 15 June 2015
Mother sinking fast into dementia. Sister and I taking care of the bank, lawyer, bills, apartment, and lastly, in April of 2016 moving mother to assisted living.
Late 2017, Miami Beach, Florida
I think the photo within this photo was taken in November or December of 2017, Miami Beach Florida.
Night Swim : 21 March 2016
I was always tempted to join these people swimming in the pool late at night. A lot of my night shots were after 9pm. But I more often wanted to watch. Take photos. I saved my swims for early morning. Break of day stuff. 6:30am. An hour. Then sitting in the sun for a bit to dry off.
Miami Beach, Florida : 20 February 2016
This was the back of the building my parents lived in for about 25 Years. It faces the ocean and the sand and the people strolling the beach each day and swimming and sitting in the sun tanning. Mother and father gone now. Apartment sold to aid with mother’s care. She suffered from dementia. I hope she is at peace now. She was living a tortured life.
Morning Rituals : 21 February 2016
Heading down to the pool each morning around 6:30am became the way to start my day. It helped to relieve the stress of dealing with mother. Being around her dementia. Sundowning. Anger. Confusion. Mother, living a reality that was all her own. It was this trip that made it clear to me. She could no longer live on her own. We would have to find a place for her. Assisted living.